Weekly Fishing Report

 Aug. 8, 2006
This fishing report has been generated from the best information available from officers and anglers

Conditions encountered after the report is compiled may differ, however, as stream, lake and weather conditions alter fish and angler activities.

Catches of the week

Bluewater Lake: Aug. 5, Patrick Leong, 14, and Andrew Leong, 10, of Rio Rancho, caught and released 17 tiger musky between 18 and 25 inches in length. They were fishing with their dad and using a variety of Rapalas.

Ute Lake: Aug. 5, Kelly Railsback of Muleshoe, Texas, caught a 6.67-pound largemouth bass. He was using live minnows.

If you have a catch of the week story, send it to us at fishnm@hotmail.com. Include date, location, type of fish, length and bait used to catch the fish.

NORTHEAST AREA

CHARETTE LAKES: Trout fishing was a bit slow this past week. A few trout were taken by anglers using power bait and corn. A few perch were taken on worms fished under a bobber.

CIMARRON RIVER: Water flow below Eagle Nest as of Monday was 11cfs. Trout fishing was rated as good with flies but slow with bait this past week. Best flies were parachute adams, elk hair caddis, yellow sallies and small bead head hares ears.

GRAVEL PIT LAKES: We had no reports from anglers this week.

CLAYTON LAKE: Fishing was fair using liver, shrimp and worms for catfish. A few walleye were taken by anglers trolling spinner/worm combinations. Trout fishing slowed but there were a few caught on power bait and salmon eggs.

COCHITI LAKE: Heavy rains kept most anglers off the lake this past week. Those who fished reported murky water conditions and slow fishing for all species.  

CONCHAS LAKE: Fishing was good this past week for anglers using worms under a bobber and assorted flies for bluegill. A few were also taken on small plastics. Fishing for largemouth bass was good for anglers using salt craws and crank baits.   Most were taken on the salt craws worked in shallow water. Fishing for smallmouth bass was fair-to-good for anglers using buzz baits, spinner baits, tubes and jigs. Fishing for catfish was fair for anglers using cut bait and shrimp. Fishing for white bass was fair using spinners and crank baits. We had no reports on other species.

COYOTE CREEK: Trout fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using elk hair caddis, small stimulators, parachute adams and salmon eggs.

EAGLE NEST LAKE: Perch fishing provided the best action this past week. Anglers did well using worms and fishing from the bank. Fishing was fair using spinners, christmas tree/worm combinations, salmon eggs and power bait for rainbow trout. Kokanee fishing was fair trolling double whammies, kokanee killers, Panther Martins and Cripplures tipped with corn or power bait. They were trolling at depths of 13-to-27 feet.

LAKE MALOYA/LAKE ALICE: Trout fishing slowed considerably at both lakes this past week. Anglers caught a few fish using Pistol Petes in the late evening hours.

MAXWELL LAKE 13: Fishing was slow for all species.

MCALLISTER LAKE: Fishing was slow.

MONASTERY LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this week.

MORPHY LAKE: Bank fishing for trout was rated as slow-to-fair this past week. Best baits were power bait and salmon eggs. Anglers fishing from boats and float tubes did well using brown elk hair caddis and small spinners.

PECOS RIVER: As of Monday morning, water flow was 175cfs near the town of Pecos. Above Cowles, trout fishing was good for anglers using may fly nymphs and assorted attractors. The Mora and the lower Pecos were running high and off color and fishing was slow.  

RED RIVER: Water flow near Questa was 23cfs and below the hatchery was 47cfs as of Monday. Trout fishing was rated as good this past week for anglers using elk hair caddis, parachute adams, yellow stimulators and worms.

RIO COSTILLA: Trout fishing was good using elk hair caddis, bead head hares ears, yellow stimulators and parachute adams.

RIO GRANDE: As of Monday, water flow near the Taos Junction Bridge was 317cfs. Fishing was rated as slow for all species.

SANTA CRUZ: We had no reports from anglers this week.

SHUREE PONDS: Trout fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using small spoons, Pistol Petes and bead head nymphs.

SPRINGER LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species. The water was quite murky.

STORRIE LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species.

UTE LAKE: Fishing was pretty spotty this past week for most species. A few white bass were taken by anglers using jigs tipped with grubs and slab spoons. They were working off points in 25-to-35 feet of water. Walleye fishing was fair using slab spoons and deep little rippers at depths of 25-to-40 feet over 30-to-65 feet of water. Fishing for largemouth bass was slow-to-fair for anglers using live minnows, senkos and jigs over deep grass. Smallmouth bass fishing was fair for anglers using jigs, grubs, tubes and worms on rocky points in 12-to-16 feet of water. Fishing for catfish was fair for anglers using cut bait.

NORTHWEST AREA

ABIQUIU LAKE: Fishing was slow-to-fair for anglers using deep running crank baits and Wally Pops tipped with night crawlers or Gulp worms for walleye. The walleye were in 8-to-28 feet of water and most again this week were caught at the upper end of the lake.   Fishing was good using spinner/worm combinations for perch. We had no reports on other species.

BLUEWATER LAKE: Fishing was very good trolling assorted crank baits for tiger musky. Anglers are reminded that the tiger musky are a catch and release only fish.

  Fishing was fair using shrimp and liver for catfish. A few trout were taken by anglers using power bait, salmon eggs and spinners.

BURNS CANYON LAKE: Fishing was fair for anglers using spinners and salmon eggs for trout. There are special regulations covering fishing on this water. Be sure and check them out on page 6 of your fishing rules and information.

CANJILON LAKES: Trout fishing was fair this past week for anglers using prop flies under a bubble, spinners, power bait and salmon eggs.

CHAMA RIVER: Water flow below El Vado Lake on Monday morning was 39cfs and 121cfs below Abiquiu. Our best reports again this past week came from anglers fishing above El Vado. They did well using spinners, prop flies, stimulators and copper john barrs for a mix of brown and rainbow trout.

CONSERVANCY PARK LAKE (Tingley Beach): Fishing was rated as slow for all species. Try fishing here early and late in the day for the best chances at catching fish this time of year.

EL VADO LAKE: Fishing was slow.

FENTON LAKE: Heavy rains have turned the lake into something that looked more like chocolate milk this past Sunday. Trout fishing was slow and will probably remain slow until the weather cools and the rains subside.

HERON LAKE: Fishing for kokanee was fair-to-good this past week for anglers trolling double whammies, kokanee killers and Panther Martins tipped with corn or power bait. Most of the kokanee were in the 14-to-20 inch size and were taken by anglers trolling at depths of 22-to-27 feet. Fishing for rainbow trout was slow-to-fair for anglers using power bait, salmon eggs and spinners and fishing from the bank.

JEMEZ WATERS: As of Monday, water flow on the Jemez near Jemez Springs was 104cfs. Most of the Jemez streams were running high and murky over the past weekend creating tough fishing conditions. Fishing should pick up as the streams ebb back to more normal summer flows. We did have one good report from anglers who fished for brown trout on the Rio Guadalupe below Porter Landing. They did well using foam beetles, ants and Rio Grande trudes in pocket water. They also reported some dense midge hatches from mid to late morning.

MANZANO LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this week.

MCGAFFEY LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this week.

NAVAJO LAKE: Kokanee fishing was reported as fair again this past week. Anglers did best trolling Arnies, Z Rays and needlefish at 30-to-45 feet. Most of the action was on the main lake between Frances Canyon and the dam. Fishing for smallmouth bass was good for anglers using top water lures, tubes, senkos, worms and crank baits. Fishing was good for anglers using spinner baits and buzz baits for northern pike. There were several pike caught on the San Juan arm above La Jara Canyon. Fishing for catfish was fair for anglers fishing at night and using cut bait and liver.

RAMAH LAKE: The lake has been closed to all access due to a recent fish kill. The department will reopen the lake when conditions improve.

SAN GREGORIO LAKE: Trout fishing was good for anglers using power bait, midges, small hoppers and elk hair caddis.

SAN JUAN: Water flow below Navajo Lake as of Monday was 620cfs. Trout fishing above the Texas Hole was good for anglers using midge clusters, dead chickens, bead head pheasant tails, red annelids, brassies, San Juan worms and parachute adams. The water was quite murky downstream from here and fishing was slow as of this past Sunday. A few fish were taken on worms, spinners and wooly buggers.

SEVEN SPRINGS BROOD POND: This water is for kids under age 12 only. It's a great place to take the little ones for some fun fishing.

SOUTHWEST AREA

BEAR CANYON: We had no reports from anglers this week.

BILL EVANS LAKE: Fishing was fair-to-good for anglers using worms, salmon eggs and small jigs under a bobber for bluegill. We had no reports on other species.

CABALLO LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species.

ELEPHANT BUTTE: Fishing was good using live bait, tail spinners, crank baits, grubs and jerk baits for white bass. Anglers did well near the Butte and in front of McRae Canyon. Fishing was slow-to-fair using top water lures, senkos tubes and spinner baits for black bass. Most of the black bass were taken in less than 15 feet of water. Fishing was slow-to-fair using live bait, jigs and top water lures for striped bass. Fishing was good using live shad, cut shad, liver, shrimp and hot dogs for catfish. Anglers using minnows and fishing at night caught several crappie, catfish and bluegill. Most of the catfish were taken at depths of 18-to-23 feet.

ESCONDIDA LAKE: Fishing was fair using liver and shrimp for catfish.

GILA RIVER: Water on the main river was flowing at 679cfs as of Monday morning. The main river and the Forks were high and murky and fishing was slow.

LAKE ROBERTS: Fishing was fair using liver and night crawlers for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

PERCHA DAM: Fishing was slow for all species.

QUEMADO LAKE: The lake and surrounding area had been closed for a few days due to a bear problem but reopened as of Monday. We had no reports from anglers.

RIO GRANDE: Water flow below Elephant Butte was 929cfs as of Monday. Fishing was slow for all species.

SOUTHEAST AREA

BATAAN LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species.

BONITO LAKE: Fishing was slow-to-fair this past week for anglers using salmon eggs, power bait and prop flies.

BOSQUE REDONDO: We had no reports from anglers this week.

BRANTLEY: Anglers are to practice catch and release for all fish here as high levels of DDT were found in several fish. We had no reports from anglers this week.

CARLSBAD MUNICIPAL LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species.

GRINDSTONE RESERVOIR: The lake water level is low and the city of Ruidoso is treating the lake on a weekly basis with copper sulfate. Stocking has been suspended until conditions change.

PECOS: Below Sumner Lake, water flow on Monday was 85cfs. Fishing was very good for anglers using cut bait and chicken liver for catfish. We had no reports on other species.

PERCH LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this week.

RUIDOSO RIVER: Water flow as of Monday was 93cfs. Trout fishing was slow but should improve as the water level subsides and the water clears.

SANTA ROSA LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this week.

SUMNER LAKE: Fishing was fair for anglers using senkos, tubes and spinner baits for black bass. Fishing was slow for all other species. A few walleye were taken by anglers trolling bottom bouncer/night crawler rigs.

Other waters around the state worth checking out include the Santa Barbara, the Rio Pueblo and the Rio Hondo. These small streams have been fishing quite well and especially so with small dry flies. Give them a try.